In this file photo taken Tuesday, March 9, 2010, elephants use their trunks to smell for possible danger in the Tsavo East national park, Kenya. The Trump administration is lifting a federal ban on the importation of body parts from African elephants shot for sport. (AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo, File)

The Latest: GOP congressman calls for ban on elephant hunts

Nov. 18, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's decision to delay new policy on importation of elephant trophies from two African countries (all times local):

11:30 a.m.

A Republican congressman is praising President Donald Trump's decision to delay a new policy allowing trophies of African elephants shot for sport to be brought into the country.

But Rep. Vern Buchanan, who co-chairs the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, says more needs to be done to protect African elephants from extinction. He says sport hunting of the endangered species is "shameful" and calls for a permanent ban.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday it would allow the importation of elephant trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe, arguing that encouraging wealthy big-game hunters to kill the animals would help raise money for conservation programs.

After animal rights advocates and environmental groups criticized the decision, Trump said late Friday he was delaying the new policy until he can review "all conservation facts."

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11:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he's delaying a new policy allowing trophies of African elephants shot for sport to be imported until he can review "all conservation facts."

He announced the delay late Friday following criticism from several quarters, including environmentalists, animal rights activists and some lawmakers from his own party.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Thursday it would allow such importation, arguing that encouraging wealthy big-game hunters to kill the threatened species would help raise money for conservation programs.

Animal rights advocates and environmental groups criticized the decision. California Rep. Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the administration to reverse the policy, calling it the "wrong move at the wrong time."